Chris Hughton defends Norwich City’s Bradley Johnson after Alan Pardew says the midfielder should be ‘ashamed’ after double sending off

Chris Hughton defended Norwich City midfielder Bradley Johnson after he was red-carded along with Newcastle's Loic Remy in a 0-0 Premier League draw at Carrow Road. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd

Chris Hughton hit back at Alan Pardew’s claims Norwich City midfielder Bradley Johnson should be ‘ashamed’ of his actions in a double sending off that marred Tuesday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Carrow Road.

Loic Remy was dismissed for an apparent head butt gesture towards Johnson which Pardew claimed afterwards had been exaggerated by the Canaries’ midfielder, who also saw red for an initial shove into the French striker’s chest. Hughton labelled Johnson’s exit ‘incredibly harsh’ and disputed Magpies’ chief Pardew’s version of events.

“I think if you look at Bradley Johnson’s actions he hasn’t gone down on the floor,” he said. “Sometimes you see reactions when they are rolling around. All he has done is pull his head away. As regards the amount of contact I can’t comment on that but Bradley Johnson is not the type of player who would look to get someone sent off. My gut feeling is we will appeal but you have to look at it again. We’ll look in the morning and make the right decisions.

“I had a very good view of the initial incident when Loic Remy moved his head in Bradley Johnson’s direction. I want to speak about Bradley’s sending off which I felt was incredibly harsh. I presumed when I saw him being sent off that something else had happened instead of what I saw, which was him push Loic Remy in the chest. I don’t believe that was an overly aggressive act. There was some aggression but apparently that was what he was sent off for. I don’t think he would have been if the Newcastle player had been.”

Pardew was in no doubt Johnson’s actions had contributed to Remy’s red card.

“That is the thing the game will be remembered for because it shouldn’t. We had some outstanding chances,” he said. “We were good all over and I am scratching my head how we have not won that. The incident at the end there was some pushing and shoving. They raised their hands and the heads have come together. That is probably just enough for the referee to send them off but Johnson’s reaction to the heads meeting was the catalyst for them both getting sent off. It was his own fault. If he hadn’t done that maybe the referee would have taken a more lenient view. But he made such a drama out of it that he should be ashamed of himself in my opinion. Once he did that stupid reaction the crowd all went mad and the referee has no choice really.”

Hughton also defended Robert Snodgrass after the Scot was involved in a verbal spat with a section of the home support during the first half.

“I have been made aware of that incident and I will do my best to find out what happened there but there is always a lot of passion and Robert is a passionate individual,” said Hughton. “He is a hard-working player. In all honesty it is my responsibility to find out the full facts but Robert is always involved in the thick of things.”

Wes Hoolahan was left out of City squad after a build up dominated by his future but Hughton insisted the club’s tough stance had not changed regarding the Irishman ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline day. City rejected Hoolahan’s transfer request last week following an initial enquiry from Aston Villa.

“It was my decision,” said Hughton. “We are all clear what the facts are. There was a bid and a transfer request and we turned both down. I’ve involved him in two previous games but felt it was something that might affect this game and could be on Wes’ mind. The facts are no different. There has been no change.”

Hughton accepted his side had been off the pace in the opening period against a slick Newcastle.

“They were sharper and better on the ball than us in the first half,” he said. “We have to be honest enough to say we didn’t play particularly well in the first half. Newcastle were sharper, more aggressive and better on the ball. I was probably delighted to come in at half-time 0-0 and we got to grips with it better in the second period and had a great chance at the end with Robert’s header. We addressed it, and managed to get ourselves into positions, even if we didn’t create as much as we’d like to.”

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Hughton should be more concerned about the team performance ( or lack of one ) than a red card.We were dire and I have no idea how we managed to draw that game.When you look at the teams around us in the league most are playing much better than us.
Hughton should be very concerned about our chances of turning this around

DJ_FRAMBOISE and acorn have it about right. Results matter most in this league and, like or hate, CH is just about getting them. The style of play on the other hand is something of concern, not because it's costing a place in the top four as some supporters seem to think we should be, but from McNallys point of view it will be having an impact on the NCFC 'brand'. More attractive football - or at least plucky performances from small teams - get interest from the TV stations, and TV means cash. Under PL we had more than the minimum games on Sky and that provided extra income. I think it will be that stat that defines CH in this summer or next, not based on how many points about the drop we finish.

You cannot raise your hands to an opponent, shoving him in the chest must come under that rule, then go head to head, and leap back as if you have a 240 volt shock.Both players deserved to go, but it was a pathetic performance by both of them . Why cant the manager say the lads a pillock and we will deal with it; rather than the silly froth reported in the article.

'pablo' you say 'creative players are incredibly expensive', it matters not a jot how much you spend on a player, if they haven't got someone making a run or finding space to whom a magical cross or pass might go, it's all rather pointless. The players we have, have some ability, but 9 times out of 10 there is no one to pass to. They're all static and marked out of the game. Our coaching and management are woeful.

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers

What an awful game, the wolf did absolutely nothing all night, when he did get a good ball played into him he couldn't hold off the player to do anything with it, his passing and closing down was carp and his desire to win the ball back when he lost it was no existent! Hooper was the complete opposite, he really lead the line well, why did he go off? should have been a midfielder with him dropping off a bit. why is simple passing so difficult?

What were you watching , he should be ashamed . He's a grown man and he reacted as though he'd been hit by Lennox Lewis , shameful . Both should have got yellow , but I won't miss him for the next 3 games , and what do you expect from Chris Foy . Having listened to CH's interview he said we were poor and second best in the first half , and yet he changed nothing . Even though everybody could see that wolfie was his usual frail self .

Good point, Lobbo. We do not pass and move. The game is simple and even average players can look good if they are coached to work in unison and move into space when we have the ball. All the time I notice players strolling about when they should be supporting the man with the ball. We don't even move enough at throw-ins for goodness sake! If our coaching staff were to get back to the basics of the game, we would be a better outfit. We do not by and large possess players with enough natural ability but we do have enough half-decent ones who could and should be moulded into a coherent team. And that is where Hughton and his coaches have failed miserably and totally. For me nothing will change while they continue to run the shop floor.

We certainly need to beef up our midfield as teams at the moment, not only Newcastle, bypass them at will. We have played all season with two wide players regardless of if we have one or two up front and you have to say that this has not worked for us. Either there is no striker to attack the ball or the delivery of crosses has consistently not been good enough. Our formation should still consist of 2 up front, one wide player (Redmond for preference) and 3 proper midfielders and a back four. With this formation we should aim to pass our way through the middle of defences to the strikers and hence mix our attacking options. It's easy to think that if you add players to midfield then you strengthen that area but our experience at NCFC is that you create confusion and overcrowding which due to our lack of cohesion in this area results in an ineffective midfield unit. It also encourages short passing moves, 2 metres or so, where we frequently give the ball away due to the lack of space.

Canary in Slovenia as well as being a very unpleasant individual, you really are a complete pl* nker. A very unattractive combination in my opinion. By all means criticise the game, team, manager and board but why the offensive and probably libelous comments directed at McNally who, with Delia and Michaels support has rescued our club from potential disaster.

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers

Agree with bits of various posts - some of which are pro CH some against. Leslie Cater has hit the nail on the head. We don't seem to be playing as a unit. As individuals we have some good players so when they come together surely the overall performance should be the same if not better? The thing that frustrated me the most was the way we stood off the ball and just let Newcastle run at us. Someone - please put a foot in and make a tackle! There were 2 positives from last night. Hooper worked his socks off and the team looked better when Tettey and Redmond came on. I actually felt sorry for the travelling support who must have been gutted not to win the game. We were very lucky to get a point.

I don't think there can be too much argument with either sending off. Remy did more to deserve it, but both were red. This shouldn't however distract from another shameful NCFC performance. The board is really taking the Norwich support for granted. There were 26000+ there again tonight to witness what exactly? It won't last. People will start to walk away. Norwich have been massively under performing for over a year now. Make the change.

Both players deserved to be sent off. I thought Ben Arfa also deserved a booking for his fine diving displays. Overall Newcastle were better than us, especially in midfield. Fer had an absolute stinker and poor RVW hardly had a touch. We are in a position at our club where the relationship between the players and fans is deteriorating and should we get relegated this will put us in a very poor situation (and one we have been in before). After his goal last week Ryan Bennet gave the impression that the team is showing signs of an us and them mentality. For me, this comes down to the mangers poor relationship with the supporters. Our last manager made us (and the players) believe anything was possible which gave us something to get behind. It's been obvious for a while the club won't sack Hughton and we will be stuck with him until the end of the season. All we can do now is get behind the team, try to give the players the belief and confidence they so desperately need and hope we stay up.

What were you watching , he should be ashamed . He's a grown man and he reacted as though he'd been hit by Lennox Lewis , shameful . Both should have got yellow , but I won't miss him for the next 3 games , and what do you expect from Chris Foy . Having listened to CH's interview he said we were poor and second best in the first half , and yet he changed nothing . Even though everybody could see that wolfie was his usual frail self .

Rubbish from Jig69. Johnson has been very good recently. Snodgrass played his socks off in the second half.
What I'd like to see is more from our midfield - more of a pattern, more of an idea. Maybe we haven't got the players, creative players are incredibly expensive.

Pardew has a point. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing grown fit, strong men fall over at the merest suggestion of physical contact. Bradders probably deserved his card for the play acting alone, so no complaints from me on that one. As for the result, given the first half bombardment Newcastle put us under (14 goal attempts to our 1 by half time with two coming back off the woodwork) a point was a decent result. A week or so ago I did say to a friend that I'd be happy if we get 4pts from the next couple of games .... and we have done exactly that. This season is a write off and we just need to survive by hook or by crook. As a collective, I think the time has come for us all to stop moaning about the quality of our play and just accept these last few weeks are about getting behind the team to help them slowly grind our way to safety, regardless of how little style or flair we employ to acheive it. We then address the situation in June and make a decision on whether we continue with Chris Hughton or bring someone else in who can make us a more attacking, incisive team. CH is a nice fella but there is something badly wrong at the moment and we cannot keep relying on scraping home in the final fortnight. I think CH will go and my heart says Malky but when I look at how Cardiff played under him, they were pretty defensive too. Trouble is, we won't be the only ones looking for a new manager - Laudrup has a tempestuous relation with the owners at Swansea and will probably walk away, not entirely sure Big Sam will be at WHU next season but then again can they afford to pay him off, Lambert isnt exactly pulling up trees with Villa, Pochettino has already hinted at his departure from Southampton too. I think the board need to make their minds up now and then spend the next few months quietly working on it whilst at the same time allowing CH to finish what he started, see the season out and let him depart with some dignity over the summer.

Sending off both players was right in my view - once the ref had sent off Remy - and in replay it looked like Johnson did exaggerate his reaction - I think the linesman pointed out that Bradley had actually started the handbags by shoving Remy so I guess the ref felt he had to send them both off.
I do get annoyed about the constant criticism of Snoddy, simply because he may not always get it right, frequently goes looking for free kicks, but at least he plays with total commitment and looks like he cares and wants to win.

Think Jonas might be that player. Obviously couldn't play last night but had a good debut and showed signs of things to come. Still 6 points clear of the drop - still 12th and still more than a point a game. Would have taken that at the start of the season. OTBC

I read weekly all the supporters advicecommentssuggestions. I read how everyone from the manager to the groundsman is to blame, but have any of you bothered to stop and ask yourself a simple question "Which NCFC player would command a place in any other premiership team"?
In my opinion - Not one single one of them

I am a dreamer, for the past 50 years as a Norwich city supporter it has helped. There has been some good bits and some bad bits, and now believe it or not we are going through a good bit! and this is as good as its going to get in this league with the amount of money being thrown about. Let me explain, first look at the league table, yes we near the top of our section, the section we could only dream about 4 years ago. So if you all want to sack the manager, then it follows that all the other 10 teams around us should sack theirs as well. It seems that you need a reality check, this is where we are, and this is where we are going to stay, there might be one year when we creep into the top eight, because, say one of our new signings come good or a youth player turns out to be the next Martin Peters, but that will only last a while as he will be sold. It might be we find another Paul Lambert, or Mike Walker but he will go as well poached by a bigger club and the lure of fame. Right now we need a Martin Peters, a Ian Cook, a passer of the ball from midfield, a Duncan Forbes a man of steel. But you know what? we have Robert Snodgrass, knock him if you want, but he cares, really cares so get off his back or he will be gone, and so will our chance of staying up.

Acorn, I only have 40 years of dreaming but am totally uninspired by CH. If I was on the board (I am only a small shareholder), I would be looking at my succession plan and who to replace him with at the end of the season. Any change is a risk but it seems clear to almost everyone (including McNally who I have massive repsect for) that we have a man who can never deliver long-term success and that we need to look elsewhere. He was simply a bad appointment - they happen but do not mean you have to stick with until the inevitable relegation. Learn from it and move on.

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers

When we played one up-front everyone was up in arms about our inability to threaten the goal. Now we are playing two up front and things are not much different. I believe that the common element is our mid field. The most frequent style in the PL is to have a strong midfield with highly competitive players who will knock people off the ball and launch quick and accurate attacks. Unfortunately our midfield is just not strong enough and does not play well enough as a unit to support the front player or players. When we go 4-4-2 then we our out-manned in the midfield any way but even with 5 in mid field we are getting pushed off the ball and sliced apart. This is why skilful and competitive mid-fielders are being sold for so much money. If we are not buying, we need to work on this. Yours, the armchair coach.

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers.

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers.

I have also observed that Snodders is usually involved when the opposition score too! Funny coincidence that. usual garbage from Hughton who has never uttered anything remotely interesting in his life. I really cannot see any qualities in the man that led to his appointment as our manager. So we come to the obvious conclusion that either McNally is stupid or a crook, rather like a succession of Norwich Directors in the past. And I am clearly not referring to our late great past chairman Geoffrey Watling who must be turning in his grave at watching the garbage NCFC throw up as football now.

Agree. Was very much like playing with 10 as we were totally swamped in MF and RVW was totally isolated. Only thing he got was a shocking pass from Hooper when I think all of Carrow Road expected Hooper to continue on and shoot. Feel for the bloke as hes stuck trying to play in a team that simply dont create the chances he is made for. Fox in the box etc...Hes a great player but just doesn't fit Chris Hughtons NCFC. Annoyingly we will probley off load him in the summer at a massively cut price and then Hughton will get the chop next season and the next manager will play a style perfect for Hooper and RVW. Would be just our luck!

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers

I totally agree that we need to try to get behind our team to avoid relegation at all costs, but when are we going to start to build for the future. Week after week nothing is changing fast. Re: Johnson it was pure frustration that boiled over, did he deserve to go, yes, rules are rules and top sportsman have to learn to control themselves. I do like his passion though.

I have also observed that Snodders is usually involved when the opposition score too! Funny coincidence that. usual garbage from Hughton who has never uttered anything remotely interesting in his life. I really cannot see any qualities in the man that led to his appointment as our manager. So we come to the obvious conclusion that either McNally is stupid or a crook, rather like a succession of Norwich Directors in the past. And I am clearly not referring to our late great past chairman Geoffrey Watling who must be turning in his grave at watching the garbage NCFC throw up as football now.

Hey, it's all good. Johnson misses three games and hopefully won't get back in the team, Hughton has proved that he hasn't a cluek and Snodgrass has shown he really doesn't want to be here, so let him go - none of them will be missed.

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers

While its frustrating, Johnson does have track record of this. Joey Barton for example. Once two players get involved in shoving & handbags its a case of who moves his head away holding it first. While thats disappointing its hardly crime of the century when players like Suarez, Young and especially Ramieres are constantly diving. Only positive from it is Tettey can now come straight in. While I know Johnson has his fans im certainly not one of them. We lose the ball virtually everytime the balls at his feet. Fair enough I understand hes there to do the muscle job but lets be honest he only does that to an average degree. Sometimes players ghost past him just as easily as they do other players. Fingers crossed Tettey stays fit now and can really hammer down a starting spot. In all honesty we looked a better team with 10 men and Tettey on the field (as well as Redmond). Just need Howson back asap to get the good centre trio together again. OTBC

About midfield... I have an idea while we still await Howson's return. The best passer in our team is David Fox.. what about if we play him behind Fer and Tettey in a 5 man midfield so they can protect him and he can ping passes down the wings like a quarterback... with Redmond, Snodgrass and Murphy we have the wide players to run onto these type of passes.. Hooper alone up front would then have to hold the ball up a little and rely on support from the wingers and Fer... but it would give us a solid middle and an ability to hit on the break... a bit like the Fulham Cup game at home but with Tettey instead of Johnson, one up front and more advanced wingers